Worldwide Cruises

Worldwide Cruises

Sights and Sounds of Cuba

Havana to Cienfuegos Itinerary on the Variety Voyager

Day 1: Friday | Havana

Embarkation on the ship between 3 and 4 pm in Sierra Maestra port.

Note: Passengers already in Havana have the possibility for a full day optional Tour of Havana starting at 9 am from the Melia Cohiba. We will start with a panoramic sightseeing tour of this exciting city, including a stop at the Plaza de la Revolución. Enjoy a welcome lunch at La Barraca Restaurant, located in Hotel Nacional de Cuba, which specializes in Cuban cuisine and offers breath-taking views of the Bay of Havana. Remain at the hotel for an engrossing lecture with well-known architect Pedro Vasquez. Continue to the pier for embarkation on the ship, followed by a boat drill and welcome briefing. Overnight in Havana.

Day 2: Saturday | Havana

After breakfast, we will start our Optional Excursion in Old Havana. Witness a mixture of beautiful old baroque and neo-classical monuments, arcades and private balconies. For an enhanced sightseeing experience, flag down a uniquely decorated local “bicitaxi,” or bicycle taxi. We will stop at a local restaurant for lunch, followed by a scenic drive in vintage American cars to Finca Vigia, beloved home of Ernest Hemingway where he lived for 21 years and wrote For Whom the Bell Tolls and The Old Man and the Sea. Upon our return from Finca Vigia, enjoy some free time before we make our way to Café El Mercurio for dinner, and then to the Café Taberna to experience the wonderful salsa music of the Buena Vista Social Club style performance. Overnight in Sierra Maestra Port- Old Havana.

DAY 3: Sunday | Havana

Disembark in the early morning for an optional excursion to Fusterlandia, the studio of artist Jose Rodriguez Fuster. The brightly coloured mermaids, roofs, walls, benches, and doorways were greatly inspired by Gaudi in Barcelona and Brancusi in Rome, but most of all by Picasso and Dubuffet. Enjoy 2 hours or leisure to experience the wonders of Havana on your own before returning to the ship for embarkation. Lunch, dinner, and overnight onboard as we sail to Maria La Gorda.

DAY 4: Monday | Maria La Gorda

After breakfast, we disembark in Maria La Gorda for our optional excursion, where we will visit a local school to meet the Cuban children and their teachers, and discuss the differences and levels of the Cuban and American educational systems, particularly in the rural areas of the country. Visit the headquarters of Guanahacabibes National Park, one of the country's largest nature reserves on the westernmost tip of the island. The peninsula is one of the last refuges of aboriginals fleeing from the Spanish conquistadors and also holds some 140 archaeological sites linked to life of aboriginals known as Guanahatabeyes. Time-permitting, we will venture into the park, followed by free time for swimming, snorkelling and a BBQ lunch in Maria La Gorda before embarking the Voyager. Dinner and overnight on board as we sail to the Island of Youth-Isla de la Juventud.

Day 5: Tuesday | Isla Juventud

Until 1977, the island was called the Isle of Pines. In 1978 Fidel Castro turned the island into one grand Communist school for students from around the world and thus the Island of Youth.

Your Optional Juventud excursion starts. Disembark on the beach where you will board the bus for the short drive, enjoying panoramic sightseeing until you reach the Presidio Modelo, an abandoned panopticon prison where both Fidel and Raul Castro were imprisoned from 1953-1955. Enjoy lunch in an authentic local restaurant before visiting an art school and the maternity ward of a local hospital. There will be some free time for independent exploration and enjoyment around Nueva Gerona’s grand boulevard before returning to embark the ship. Overnight at sea to Casilda/Trinidad.

Day 6: Wednesday | Casilda/ Trinidad

Disembark for our Trinidad Optional excursion. A meticulously well-preserved Spanish colonial city, with its rich architecture, cobblestone streets, palaces and plazas, it is sometimes referred to as the ‘Museum City of Cuba.” This morning we will walk through the town and then meet with a representative of the Office of the City Historian, interacting with residents along the way. We will attend a presentation and visit a scale model of the city. Stop at the Romantic Museum located in the old palace of the Count Brunet, with samples of furniture and decorative arts, or the Palacio Cantero Museum. Visit the studio of Lazaro, a unique woodcarver and take part in a sightseeing tour of this UNESCO World Heritage site. Lunch at a typical Cuban Restaurant, or similar followed by a visit the studio of Lazaro Niebla, a very unique woodcarver. Depart Trinidad by bus and drive to Cienfuegos, where we will meet the Voyager for an overnight in port. Captain’s Farewell Dinner onboard.

Day 7: Thursday | Cienfuegos

Enjoy breakfast on board before disembarking for full day Optional excursion of Cienfuegos. The city was founded by French settlers and thus offers a unique architecture. Cienfuegos is also known as the Pearl of the South and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit the graphic arts workshop and the Benny More School of Art. Walk around the city centre and admire outstanding examples of French neo classical architecture from the 19th Century. A special treat will be a concert by the singers of the Chorus of Cienfuegos, or string quartet. After lunch, we will stroll around the city, meet the locals, and visit the galleries and the local market. Overnight in Cienfuegos.

Day 8: Friday | Cienfuegos

Disembark at 9 am after breakfast, for a 4 and a ½ hour bus transfer with other passengers back to Havana - Melia Cohiba Hotel.

Note: These itineraries may be subject to change as a result of weather and other factors not in our control. Our vessels have been granted the longest stays of any cruise boats in the port of Havana. Since space at the dock itself is severely limited, this itinerary might involve a combination of having to tender in to shore, as well as docking at one of only two piers.

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From £2.290

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Ships

VARIETY VOYAGER

Experience a harmonious balance between conventional cruising and private yachting, along with an exciting voyage of discovery, unraveling the wonders of the Cuba that await to be discovered. Each day you will discover a new port of call, a hidden cove with crystal blue waters to cool you and rich cultural diversity to intrigue you. Vibrant Havana. The colonial cities of Cienfuegos and Trinidad, the verdant landscapes of Vinales and the crystal clear seas and amazing underwater life in Cayo Largo.

Why Book with Diamond Sky Holidays...

Dear guest,
Welcome to Diamond Sky Holidays - if you are looking for a quality holiday, something a bit different with personal service, then you are in the right place. Please relax and enjoy browsing through our many interesting holiday ideas.

Diamond Sky Holidays offers discerning clients the most selective products using the 30 years of knowledge and experience I have gained in the holiday industry. During my 30 years in the travel industry I have experienced many happy moments and received many awards at the Travel Oscars, thanks to our core principle of customer care and our passion and dedication to what we do.

I have personally inspected all of our products, ensuring the quality of the every aspect. At Diamond Sky, you will find only the finest, unique holiday experiences, such as Cappadocia, It is a very unique place, a fairy-tale like land that offers visitors an unforgettable experience. My passion for traditional Gulet Cruises
remains strong and we still offer unforgettable luxury gulet cruise experiences full of authentic character.

Our aim is to exceed your expectations and to do this we take care of everything for you. Plus, we offer 100% financial protection for your peace of mind - every penny you pay will be protected through our secure licencing arrangements. Please feel free to call me on my direct number 0121 794 26 24, our main office number of 0330 390 0999 or email me at akin@diamondskyholidays.com. I am happy to talk to you personally and recommend the ideal holiday to suit your requirements and ensure that you and your companions get the perfect holiday you deserve

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Akin Koc
Founder & Managing Director

Don't just take our word for it...

"We have travelled all over the world and I can safely say that this holiday was one of the best - full of new experiences including a trip in a hot air balloon, visiting underground cities, ancient cave dwellings with amazing frescoes and fabulous landscapes. It was fun and exciting. For the first 2 days of tours in Cappadocia we went with the local representative, who were excellent and our guide, Mustafa Sahin was outstanding.
Thank you again for a brilliant trip and we will recommend your company. We may be interested in Croatia next year.